Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- December 2025
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Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) Summary of recent activities
This document summarises the recent activity of the FSA’s Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs). We highlight topics discussed at the most recent meeting and agenda items for the next meeting.
Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) Summary of recent activities
Science Council
Updated: November 2025.
Summary of work
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‘Wider impacts beyond food safety risk assessment’ project workshop on 22 April 2024: This project was commissioned to advise on the practicalities of including impacts outside food safety in FSA decisions. This workshop brought together external experts across a range of disciplines to review exemplar case studies of a range of possible novel foods/processes, establish the key wider impacts, what information is needed to assess these and where collaboration would be needed with other Government Departments on impacts of joint interest. The final report of this project was published, along with its recommendations, in November 2024 on the Science Council website.
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‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) in food assurance’ project workshop was held on 9 June 2025 to support their project on AI use in food safety and authenticity. Science Council hosted this expert elicitation workshop with experts across a range of sectors including academia, the food manufacturing and AI industry to discuss the use of AI in food safety/authenticity assurance. A report of this project was published on 28 October on the Science Council website and contains recommendations to the FSA on the use of AI in assuring food safety and authenticity.
Next plenary meeting: December 2025.
Interim Chair: Professor John O'Brien.
Secretariat: sciencecouncil@food.gov.uk
Website: science-council.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)
Updated: October 2025.
Last meeting: 1st October (15th plenary), key discussion items included:
- Analytic Unit Update.
- Working groups updates (Assurance, Understanding Regulatory Change, Economics, Wider Consumer Interests).
- Science Council update.
- F&Y2 - Declining response rates and the impact on representation.
- F&Y2 - Opportunities for further analysis and reporting.
- External expertise mapping.
- FSA research and evidence priorities: Foodborne disease.
Four working groups are currently active, supporting the development of a range of research activity, from the evidence behind the 2024/25 Spending Review business case, to supporting changes to the FSA consumer monitoring surveys.
We held a joint meeting with DEFRAs Social Science Expert Group, and the British Academy, around “Food systems futures: System challenges, policy solutions and threats” in May 2025
Next open meeting (16th Plenary) of the ACSS will be in April.
Chair: Julie Hill.
Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk
Website: acss.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)
Updated: 14th November 2025.
- ACNFP Committee meeting 24th and 25th September 2025: A successful 2-day hybrid meeting was held reviewing 3 novel food applications and 3 CBD applications. This review included 3 new full novel food applications (Urolithin A RP1777, Clostridium Protein RP1920 and LPC rich oil from krill RP2181) for which Members identified data gaps for all and provided advice to the Secretariat to seek further information from each applicant. For the three CBD items, one of the assessments (RP225) was finalised and data gaps were identified for both RP47 and RP46 for which Members provided advice to the Secretariat to seek further information from the applicant. The assessment of one GMO application was successfully completed and the respective Committee Advice Documents reviewed and finalised. The meeting included a Workshop on Cell Cultivated Products (CCP) which gathered feedback on a draft FSA guidance for applicants on nutrition and allergenicity. Members Comments will be considered by the Sandbox team and the guidance further developed. The meeting also included an introduction to the assessment of Group C CBD applications by the Secretariat - hemp extracts with a significant amount of CBD present. The 172nd minutes were agreed in principle pending minor amendments and Chair’s action.
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ACNFP-PGT Subcommittee meeting 22nd October 2025: A successful meeting, where advice was received on the assessment of a returning GM application (Soy leghemoglobin RP735) and a new one (Soybean RP2310). The additional expert advice from a toxicologist was received.
The Subcommittee identified where further information from the applicant was needed to complete the safety assessment of RP735; application RP2310 will be further discussed by correspondence. The Subcommittee also discussed the assessment precision bred organisms using some case studies to support the preparations for the new precision breeding regime.
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ACNFP-CCP Subgroup meeting 15th October: The Subgroup met virtually for its third meeting since its establishment to discuss the key hazards and mitigations required for the effective assessment of cell cultivated products (CCPs). The meeting was a success, with the Subgroup discussing the hazards associated with the growth media required for CCP production, and what toxicological studies would be appropriate to support their assessment. This meeting provided the secretariat with greater insight into the requirements for these assessments, identifying key knowledge gaps that will require further consideration and development through the work of the CCP Sandbox before returning to the Subgroup for further consideration and subsequent development of FSA guidance on this topic.
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ACNFP-CBD sub-group: it should be noted that this sub-group concluded its formal work as a group in January 2025. However, if new scientific information becomes available, expert members from ACNFP and COT will be reconvened ad hoc to advise the FSA on the relevance of the new work to the FSAs conclusions and advice on CBD.
Next ACNFP meeting: 19th November 2025 (Hybrid).
Next ACNFP-PGT meeting: 9th December 2025 (Virtual).
Next ACNFP-CCP Subgroup: 20th January 2026 (Virtual).
Secretariat: acnfp@food.gov.uk
ACNFP Website: Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes | Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF)
Updated: 10th November 2025.
Last meeting: 23rd October 2025.
The Committee’s 110th plenary meeting was on the 23rd of October 2025.
Elaine Pegg (FSA) presented analysis from the Committee Expertise review.
Paul Turner, (University of East Anglia) gave an overview of the Health Protection Research Unit.
Development of trend analysis guidance (Svetlozara Chobanova, FSS) - Reserved business.
Food attribution by pathogen, proposed expert elicitation exercise – (Darren Holland, FSA) – Reserved business.
Extraordinary EFIG update (Anthony Wilson, FSA) – Reserved Business.
IID3 update (Aileen Mill, Newcastle University) - Reserved Business.
C. botulinum in cattle withdrawal period discussion (Stephen Wylie, APHA) – Reserved Business.
Next meeting: 5th February 2026 in London. Agenda to be confirmed.
Chair: Mr Alec Kyriakides
Secretariat: acmsf@food.gov.uk
Website: acmsf.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)
Updated: 6th November 2025.
Last meeting: 30th October 2025.
30th October 2025 ACAF Meeting Summary
- Dossier for assessment RP2276 3-NOP – Members discussed the application and carried out a risk assessment of the additive.
- Reviewed the RFI responses for RP2074, RP2163 and RP2258.
- A draft opinion was evaluated for RP2157.
- Members undertook a horizon scanning exercise.
Next meeting: 10th December 2025.
Interim Chair: Professor Nick Wheelhouse
Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)
Updated: November 2025.
Last meeting: 21st October 2025.
Topics discussed included:
At their October meeting the Committee reviewed a scoping paper on the potential risk(s) of Garcinia Cambogia and commented on Smoke Flavouring CADS (Reserved).
They also reviewed a summary of the European Food Safety Authority’s scientific opinion on the guidance on the use of read across for chemical safety assessment in food and feed.
The Committee also continued their work reviewing two draft statements on:
- First draft statement the safety of ashwagandha in food, drinks and food supplements (Reserved).
- Second draft statement on the risk for T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins in food.
Under Any Other Business they heard a presentation on FSA work to support negotiations and planning for implementation of an EU-UK SPS Agreement (reserved).
Next meeting: 9th of October 2025 (Virtual).
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC)
Updated: December 2025.
Last meeting: November 2025.
Last meeting: November2025
Talc (non-asbestiform), the end of the genetic paradigm of cancer, submissions on COC case for change.
Next meeting: March 2026.
Further meetings: TBC.
Chair: Professor David Harrison
Secretariat: COC@phe.gov.uk
Website: committee-on-carcinogenicity-of-chemicals-in-food-consumer-products-and-the-environment
The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM)
Updated: December 2025.
Last meeting: October 2025.
The end of the genetic paradigm of cancer, weight of evidence assessment for genotoxicity.
Next meeting: March 2026.
Further meetings: March, June, October 2026.
Chair: Prof Gareth Jenkins.
Secretariat: COM@phe.gov.uk
Website: committee-on-mutagenicity-of-chemicals-in-food-consumer-products-and-the-environment
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
Updated: December 2025.
Last meeting: 13th November 2025.
Meeting focus:
Nutrition and maternal health, review of health effects of meat (reserved). NDNS by inequalities, horizon scanning.
Next meeting: 12th March 2026.
Chair: Professor Ian Young.
Secretariat:SACN@dhsc.gov.uk
Website: scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition